Natsumi Kogawa is shown with William Schneider in security camera footage on the day she disappeared in September, 2016

CANADA (TR) – A 49-year-old Canadian male arrested last year in the murder of a Japanese woman who had gone missing in Vancouver has had a separate charge of sexual assault charge stayed, it was learned last week, reports the Vancouver Sun (Sept. 22).

A stay of proceedings on that charge — meaning the charge is no longer applicable — was filed earlier this month after a prosecutor reviewed the case and discovered that the approval standard for the charge could no longer be met, according to Alisia Adams, acting communications counsel with the Ministry of Attorney General’s B.C. Prosecution Service.

In February of this year, Schneider was charged with second-degree murder in the killing of Kogawa. The suspect was initially taken into custody on suspicion of indignity to a human body the day after the discovery of her corpse. Both of those charges remain on his record.

Native of Aomori

Kogawa, a native of Aomori Prefecture, had been studying in Vancouver since May. A friend was last able to contact her via the smartphone application Line on September 8, 2016. Four days later, a missing persons report was filed with police.

For the other two charges, Schneider is expected to appear in court on October 16.